Subaru Liberty 2008 Review

Odd to remember when the current generation Subaru Liberty was launched here in 2003 this moveable feast consisted only of the usual Japanese dishes and a Holden-badged European, which has now been 'replaced' — for want of a better word — by a re-badged Daewoo.

To this satisfying fare add a Mexican-manufactured Volkswagen (the Jetta), a Czech-made version of the same (Skoda's Octavia), a garnishing of Swedes and even a few high-calorie but wholly unappetising Yanks. This segment is the most competitive and the richest in terms of choice of any in the passenger-vehicle market.

The middle class offers family friendliness without causing Commodore- or Falcon-sized pains at the bowser, with no little styling and what marketing types call 'sophistication'.

The best of them stand favourably with 'prestige' cars from BMW, Mercedes and Audi — but without being subject to the iniquity of the luxury car tax. The least of them are ignored - deservedly for some - but not so in the case of Hyundai's Sonata V6.

We felt it high time to revisit the singular Soob. The Liberty has a bit over 12 months to run on its six-year cycle before the arrival of what Subaru Australia says is an all-new model.

To the flock of front-wheel-drives it brings the marque's trademark symmetrical all-wheel-drive and its equally synonymous horizontally opposed boxer engine to a field of more conventional petrol (and, increasingly, turbo diesel) fours. It's largely for these that Subarus has a special cachet in a country where more are sold than in all of Europe. Owners tend to become devotees, and not readily lured by the newer and spicier items on the menu.

And though it's approaching pensionable age, it isn't at all hard to see why this is so. Even back when most offerings were blandly functional in this realm of the auto lexicon, the Liberty always had something approaching personality, and an endearing one at that. The Soob's essential soundness, augmented by some smart upgrades, have seen age weary it very little. Some signs, though, can't be retrieved by cosmetic surgery.

While people tend to shrink with age, the Liberty has been outgrown. To line it up with the latest Mazda6 is to line up cars that appear to belong to different classes. The Subaru is comparatively compact, oppressively so for any rear-seat passengers with bigger than the Japanese average foot size.

Telescopic adjustment was added to the steering column during the mid-life upgrade, but not a lot of it. The driving position is a question of making do, though you have the consolation of interior materials that manage the feat of being both highly functional and rather pleasant.

Unlike some others, the Liberty is one model line that's not had to be rushed in for an earlier-than-scheduled facelift. It's discreet but hardly anonymous, not so swept as the newer cars, but with lines that remain pleasing.

Really, there are two active safety omissions but we were willing to forgo dynamic and traction controls simply to have the five-speed manual version of the 2.5i. These devices are listed with the auto, but so too is an old-world four-speeder. We just wanted to change gears for ourselves.

Doing so in the Liberty is felt by some to be a chore, and it's true that the manual's action is some way from buttery in the Honda fashion. The gates are tightly sprung and the stick can need shoving into the old slot, but it's no chore and again less a fault than a personality trait.

Even with AWD, the kerb weight is shy of 1400kg, making for what has always been one of the more agile handlers in the class and what remains the most rewarding. Its willingness to be thrown about is such that it takes time to trust it fully. The trade-off for the initial Soob-like understeer is the ability to launch out of corners with poise and power. Fun, you'd have to say. Though uneven surfaces can give the back end the skitters, ride is supremely competent in the main. Even my dear mum remarked on it.

The distinctive thrum of the Boxer engine is best heard when accelerating firmly through low gears, something to which you'll have gratifyingly regular recourse with Liberty's comparative lack of low-down torque. And if the current Liberty's still a more-than-worthy competitor, becoming familiar with it makes the next generation model a prospect to positively savour.

Verdict: 6.9/10

The bottom line Liberty maintains equality with its fraternity … personality, poise and a large dose of fun in a medium-sized package.

---

Snapshot

Subaru Liberty 2.5i sedan

Price: from $32,490

Engine: 2.5L/4-cylinder 127kw/226Nm

Transmission: 5-speed man; 4-speed auto

Economy: 8.2L/100km (manual tested)

Rivals

Honda Accord Euro

Price: TBA (due in June)

Engine: 2.4L/4-cylinder 140kW/223Nm

Transmission: 6-speed man, 5-speed auto

Economy: 8.8L/100km claimed

Mazda 6 classic sedan

Price: from $33,880

Engine: 2.5L/4-cylinder; 125kW/226Nm

Transmission: 6-speed man; 5-speed auto

Economy: 8.4L/100km